Mayor Steve Adler asks public to help Red Cross raise $10 million

Saturday

Mayor Steve Adler on Saturday made assurances that the city of Austin is prepared for what Hurricane Harvey might bring and urged the public to donate to the American Red Cross.

"What we need right now more than anything else is funds," Adler said at a news conference, just after receiving a tour of the American Red Cross office on Pershing Drive in East Austin.

The organization, whose Austin facility acts as a command hub for the entire 80-county South and Central Texas area, is in need of $10 million to respond to the disaster, Adler said.

Adler encouraged people to give a $10 donation by texting RED CROSS to 90999.

More than 1,000 people, both local and from throughout the country, trained to be volunteers for the Red Cross on Friday, said Marty McKellips, regional chief executive officer.

"It is reassuring to see the calvary coming over the hill to help us," Adler said. "Let’s send our thoughts and prayers to the folks that are getting battered."

RELATED: City opens shelters to Harvey evacuees; COTA opens RV lot

Adler said that though the storm appears to be moving east of the city, officials are still adequately prepared.

Shelters in Austin are ready for evacuees, volunteers are ready on standby and systems are in place to provide food and other supplies to evacuees, he said.

State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, also toured the facility Saturday and echoed Adler’s comments. Watson said seeing how many people had volunteered to help "swells your heart."

"I know that the contributions that people are making will be equal in that regard," Watson said. "In a time of disaster, you really get to see how much love there is and the way that people pour out that love."

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